SPARRER. See under SPAR (3).
SPARROW, spar'[=o], _n._ an Old World genus of birds of fringilline
family.--_ns._ SPARR'OW-BILL, a small shoe-nail, so called from its
shape--also SPAR'ABLE; SPARR'OW-GRASS, asparagus; SPARR'OW-HAWK, a genus of
long-legged, short-winged falcons, like the goshawks, but smaller.--_adj._
SPARR'OW-TAIL (see SWALLOW-TAIL). [A.S. _spearwa_; Goth. _sparwa_, Ice.
_spörr_, Ger. _sper-ling_.]
SPARRY, spär'i, _adj._ consisting of, or like, spar.--_n._
SPARR'Y-[=I]'RON, a carbonite of iron, siderite.
SPARSE, spärs, _adj._ thinly scattered: scanty.--_adv._ SPARSE'LY.--_n._
SPARSE'NESS.--_adj._ SPAR'SILE.--_n._ SPAR'SITY. [L. _sparsum_, pa.p. of
_sparg[)e]re_, to scatter; Gr. _speirein_, to sow.]
SPARTAN, spär'tan, _adj._ of or pertaining to _Sparta_ in Greece: hardy,
rigorously severe: fearless.
SPARTERIE, spär't[.e]r-i, _n._ articles made from esparto--mats, nets,
ropes, &c.
SPARTH, -E, sparth, _n._ a halberd, mace.
SPASM, spazm, _n._ an irregular and violent contraction of muscular
parts--involuntary even when the voluntary muscles are concerned. When
persistent it is _tonic spasm_ or _cramp_, _catalepsy_, _tetanus_; when the
relaxations alternate with the contractions, it is _clonic spasm_, as in
_epilepsy_, _convulsive hysteria_, _chorea_, &c.--_n._ SPASMOD'IC, a
medicine for removing spasms.--_adjs._ SPASMOD'IC, -AL, relating to, or
consisting in, spasms: convulsive.--_adv._ SPASMOD'ICALLY, in a spasmodic
manner: in fits.--_ns._ SPAS'MODIST; SPASMOL'OGY, scientific knowledge of
spasms.--_adj._ SPAS'TIC, relating to spasms, spasmodic.--_adv._
SPAS'TICALLY.--_n._ SPASTIC'ITY, tendency to spasm.--SPASMODIC SCHOOL, a
group of English poets, including P. J. Bailey, Sydney Dobell, and
Alexander Smith, marked by overstrained and unnatural sentiment and
expression. [Fr. _spasme_--L. _spasmus_--Gr. _spasmos_--_spaein_, to draw.]
SPAT, spat, _pa.t._ of _spit_, to throw from the mouth.
SPAT, spat, _n._ the spawn of shellfish.--_v.i._ to shed spawn. [From root
of _spit_.]
SPAT, spat, _n._ a slap: a large drop, as of rain: a petty quarrel.--_v.t._
to slap, to strike lightly.--_v.i._ to engage in a petty quarrel.